The 5th Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous is once again being held at the Yacht Club de Monaco on 21-22 September. Organised by M3 Monaco, a consulting firm specialised in the development and management of marinas, yacht clubs and sailing schools, the event gathers investors, architects, marina managers, manufacturers and innovators. All share the same goal to speed up the environmental transition and build sustainable, connected, people-centred marina infrastructure. This initiative is supported by well-known partners like Bombardier, MB92 Group and the Italian Yacht Masters association who alongside M3 in Monaco are committed to supporting forward-thinking debate and innovation.
This year’s discussions will be inaugurated by two keynote addresses, the first by Céline Caron-Dagioni, Monaco’s Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development, followed by Belinda Balluku, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of the Republic of Albania. Their presence underlines the event’s position as an essential international platform for rethinking tomorrow’s marinas.
The three sessions will address the creation of coastal destinations that reconcile attractiveness with respect for ecosystems; the development of business models adapted to regulatory restraints; and the employment of data as a strategic lever for responsible marina operations. The day will continue with a presentation on the SEA Index®, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s benchmark tool for measuring and reducing the environmental footprint of yachts which is a key player in the sector’s energy transition. It will give details on the latest advances followed by a working session bringing together its certified ports and marinas. Workshops in the form of round tables complete the programme, covering topics such as startup financing, adapting marinas to the needs of crews and vessels, and more sustainable fuels.
José Marco Casellini, CEO of M3 Monaco, stresses that “once again, this edition demonstrates exceptional diversity. We are no longer in the planning stage but the implementation stage. This is proof that public, private and academic stakeholders share the same conviction that the future of sustainable yachting is being built here and now”.
Bernard d’Alessandri, YCM General Secretary, adds: “The Rendezvous is not a showcase, it’s a collective workshop. To see so many nationalities, architects, marina managers and innovators in Monaco shows that the environmental transition for marinas is a shared ambition. Our role is to provide a framework so that these ideas can be translated into actual infrastructure”.
Since its launch, the Rendezvous has led to the discovery of 146 innovations presented by 125 startups and scaleups from 28 nationalities. As for marinas, 42 projects have been put forward by 33 entities representing 19 countries. And finally, 34 architectural proposals by 28 architecture firms from 10 nationalities have enriched the debate. Together they illustrate the depth and diversity of the network built over the last five years.
The 2025 edition is a perfect illustration of the momentum driving change, with innovations that translate the ecological transition into concrete solutions. OceanWell (UK) unveils its unique undersea “Water Farm” technology, harnessing natural ocean pressure to produce freshwater with no impact on biodiversity. From Croatia, Marservis is presenting ECOcube, a solar-powered autonomous floating station that collects and treats grey and black water from boats, a direct response to the challenges of marina pollution. Finally, Opti’Sea (France) employs artificial intelligence to analyse marina traffic and berth occupation in real-time to improve safety, flow and the appeal of marina facilities.
On Sunday, the focus switches to marinas notably the Marina Resort Cavtat, IGY Marinas and Marina da Gloria designed by Gabriela Lobato Marins, not to mention the Amaala Yacht Club and Corinthia Yacht Club.
The architecture session puts the spotlight on young talent like Francesco Gruni, alongside established firms such as Arrogant Architects with Bozhidar Hinkov, AND, and Ingenhoven Associates GmbH. Then on Monday, the innovation stage will be dominated by startups and scaleups who play a key role as they present already applicable solutions, like the SMART Dock concept, designed as an adaptable biodiversity-friendly dock.
The event concludes with the International Smart & Sustainable Marina Awards that recognise the most promising initiatives.
